Pharmacists are warning about the whooping cough epidemic currently raging in New Caledonia. Health professionals in general are worried about the increase in cases and especially the prospect of the simultaneous explosion of other respiratory viruses. Especially since at the same time, we are already seeing a shortage of certain anti-whooping cough medications for young children.
In its epidemiological bulletin of December 2024, the network of sentinel doctors in New Caledonia already gave worrying indications about whooping cough, in particular: 156 cases and 10 hospitalizations, including 8 among children under 5 years old. As for the flu, a notable increase has been observed since the end of December.
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The Médipôle emergency services are already in high demand and the public hospital is calling for vigilance. “To start, put on masks, in the workplace too, because the flu epidemic is starting, it will get worse. We have a lot of trips to the emergency room because of that, they have more than doubled in 48 hours And the second thing is to take your medication, because stopping medication in chronically ill people leads to complications.”recalls Thierry De Greslan, president of the Médipôle medical commission.
In one of the pharmacies in Nouméa, there is also fear of the prospect of the return to school with the simultaneous explosion of other respiratory pathogens. “With the return of travelers from mainland France, where influenza B is rampant. Here, we have influenza A, Covid, and we now have a resurgence of whooping cough,” explains Xavier Chauvin, co-owner of the Victoire pharmacy. “So it’s certain that the start of the school year may be complicated to manage. We have a lot of cases of whooping cough, especially for children. People are really sick at the moment.”
And among the consequences of the whooping cough epidemic currently raging in Caledonia: it is difficult to find the two antibiotics which are usually prescribed in oral suspension for sick children. But one of the local wholesalers assures that pharmacies will be restocked at the beginning of February. On the other hand, there is no discontinuation of anti-pertussis medications for adults.
To fight against the flu, even before contracting it, one of the doctors at the Koutio medical center insists on the urgent need to be vaccinated. “The vaccine works very well, it will work on the strains that are in the vaccine. We have four in the current vaccine. And if there are no strong mutations, that will prevent you from getting the flu”explains Xavier Thomas, general practitioner.
The report by Thérèse Waïa and Carawiane Carawiane:
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